LITTLE ROCK(AP) — Democrats Mark Pryor and Mike Ross took different positions on the president's federal health overhaul plan when it came before Congress four years ago. But, running in the two hottest races in Arkansas this fall, both find themselves under attack on the issue and attempting to navigate around it as they struggle to prevent a complete Republican takeover of the state's top offices.

Pryor, running for re-election to the Senate, and Ross, a former congressman running for governor, are facing Republican opponents who are running on an anti "Obamacare" message. Both Democrats are trying to embrace part_but not all_of a law that is generally unpopular in Arkansas but that is extending insurance to thousands of residents who didn't have any.

"I think the challenge for the Democrats in both races is to focus on the specifics, the particulars and try to get away from the generic label, which remains pretty unpopular, even toxic here," said Hal Bass, a political science professor at Ouachita Baptist University.

For Pryor, a two-term senator who voted for the health care law, that's meant pointing out certain benefits of the measure without mentioning it by name. For Ross, the Democrats' gubernatorial nominee who voted against the overhaul and called for its repeal, that's meant vowing to continue the state's compromise plan to expand Medicaid under the law.

The races are among the most expensive and closely watched in the nation. Pryor is being challenged by freshman U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton in a race that could help determine which party controls the Senate next year. Ross is running against former congressman Asa Hutchinson. Pryor's seat and the governorship are two of four statewide offices still held by Democrats.

Though candidates in both races have raised other issues, blasting the health overhaul has been a common theme for Republicans as they've steadily gained power in the state over the past two elections. Cotton regularly brings up Pryor's vote for the health care law, and Hutchinson criticizes Ross for voting for a version of health reform legislation in committee before voting against the bill that was signed into law.

Pryor last month began airing an ad where he touts the benefits of the health care law — without naming it — and says his battle with a rare form of cancer 18 years ago influenced him.

"No one should be fighting an insurance company while you're fighting for your life," Pryor says in the ad. "That's why I helped pass a law that prevents insurance companies from cancelling your policy if you get sick, or deny coverage for pre-existing conditions."

Ross has been running partly on a promise to keep alive the state's "private option" Medicaid expansion, which is using federal funds to purchase private insurance for the poor. More than 183,000 people are enrolled in the program, which was crafted as an alternative to the Medicaid expansion called for under the health law.

"As a Christian, I think it's the right thing to do and I'm going to do my best as governor to continue to fund it," Ross told a group of Delta leaders earlier this summer.

According to a Gallup survey released last month, the share of uninsured residents in Arkansas dropped about 10 percentage points — from 22.5 percent in 2013, to 12.4 percent in the middle of this year.

Cotton and Hutchinson have regularly skewered the health care law in speeches and ads as an example of government overreach. But they've also tried to tread carefully around popular parts of the law, especially the "private option."

Hutchinson, for his part, has stopped short of saying whether he'd support continuing that program next year and says he wants to review its progress.

"We know that Obamacare's not working. It's fatally flawed and the Legislature dealt with this the best they could," Hutchinson said earlier this year.

Cotton also calls for the health law's repeal, but has been careful to say that he wants to address the same problems the overhaul's backers say it solves, such as consumers being unable to get insurance because of pre-existing conditions.

"What we have to do is repeal Obamacare, start over, and get it right," Cotton told reporters last month. "We don't have to take over one sixth of the economy to address those problems like people who couldn't afford health insurance."

MIDTERM ELECTIONS: 5 THINGS TO KNOW

With a U.S. Senate race that could help determine which party controls that chamber and a race for an open governor's seat, Arkansas has no shortage of drama in its midterm election.

Republicans view the election as a chance to complete their takeover of the state's top offices, while Democrats want to keep a foothold in an otherwise GOP-friendly South. Beyond the races at the top of the ballot, the election also features plenty of interesting matchups.

Here are the races to watch in this year's election:

ARKANSAS SENATE

This is the race that's dominating the television airwaves in Arkansas, and for good reason. Republicans need a net gain of six seats to win a majority in the U.S. Senate, and they view Arkansas as crucial to that goal.

The race pits two-term Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor against freshman U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, who represents south Arkansas' 4th Congressional District. The race is already one of the most heated and expensive in the country, with the candidates and outside groups combining to spend more than $20 million on the race.

Pryor has been touting himself as a moderate Democrat who's been able to work with both parties, while trying to cast Cotton as someone beholden to outside conservative groups. Cotton has been accusing Pryor of being too closely allied with President Barack Obama and national Democrats.

ARKANSAS GOVERNOR

The open race for Arkansas' governorship is another nationally watched campaign, with Republicans identifying the post as their top pickup opportunity in the country.

Democrat Mike Ross and Republican Asa Hutchinson are both ex-congressmen hoping to succeed Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe, who is barred by term limits from seeking re-election. The GOP controls both chambers of the Legislature, and Republicans hope to complete a sweep of state offices with a win here.

The two rivals have competing tax cut plans. Ross has proposed gradually reducing individual income taxes by $575 million, but has stopped short of giving a specific timetable. Hutchinson is also proposing to gradually cut the income tax, starting with a $100 million cut for middle class workers in his first year.

U.S. HOUSE

Republicans control all four of the state's congressional seats, and Democrats hope to end the shut-out in the November election.

Much of the focus has been on two open House seats — central Arkansas' 2nd Congressional District and the 4th District in southern and western Arkansas. In the 2nd, Democrat Pat Hays, the former mayor of North Little Rock, is running against Republican banking executive French Hill. The seat was vacated by Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, who's seeking the lieutenant governor's post.

Republican state Rep. Bruce Westerman is running against Democrat James Lee Witt, who headed FEMA under former President Clinton, for the 4th District. The two are running for the seat held by Cotton.

Republicans made history when they won control of the Arkansas House and Senate in 2012, the first time they've controlled the Legislature since Reconstruction. Republicans are assured a majority in the Senate, but Democrats have a chance to reclaim the 100-member House.

The fight for control of the Legislature may affect the future of the state's "private option" Medicaid expansion. Under the plan, approved as an alternative to expanding Medicaid under the federal health overhaul, Arkansas is using federal funds to purchase private insurance for the poor. The plan has sharply divided Republicans, while Democrats support it. The program will need three-fourths support of the House and Senate to survive another year.

THE UNDERCARD

Democrats hold three of the state's constitutional offices, while Republicans hold two.

The highest profile race of the undercard is for lieutenant governor, which pits Griffin against former state Highway Commissioner John Burkhalter, the Democrat. They're running to succeed former Lt. Gov. Mark Darr, who resigned earlier this year over ethics violations.

The attorney general's race pits Democratic state Rep. Nate Steel against former Republican National Committee lawyer Leslie Rutledge. The current attorney general, Dustin McDaniel, is barred by term limits from seeking re-election.

The bid for the constitutional offices has a broader implication. The party that controls the most is considered the majority, meaning they'll hold a majority of each county's election commission seats.